Potts and Hauschildt Shine in New Hampshire

Former IRONMAN 70.3 world champion Andy Potts returned after his IRONMAN Lake Placid win last month to run his way to the win, while in the women’s race, another former IRONMAN 70.3 world champion, Melissa Hauschildt, used her blazing bike and run splits to take the women's title.

Potts leads early, then late

Andy Potts (USA) exited the water (22:21) with a commanding two-minute lead over a chase pack of four that included Mark Bowstead (NZL), Leon Griffin (AUS), Andreas Dreitz (DEU) and Sebastian Bleisteiner (DEU).

Out on the rural roads of New Hampshire, the men’s race tightened up after 28 miles as Potts' lead was reduced to 33 seconds over Dreitz, 1:26 on Griffin and 1:36 over Bowstead. The remainder of the field was seven minutes back and already out of contention for a podium placing as the leading quartet pulled away with each passing mile. Over the closing half of the ride Dreitz moved into the lead for a 1:33 advantage over Potts, who dismounted his bike in second with Griffin 4:06 off the pace.

On the run Potts quickly reduced Dreitz’s lead to less than a minute after three miles. Griffin was also on the move and had gained a minute on Dreitz. Potts managed to pass Dreitz between mile five and six and was 33 seconds ahead at the halfway point, with Griffin sitting 2:22 back.

By nine miles Potts was 1:47 ahead of Dreitz, who had Griffin breathing down his neck 20 seconds back. The drama for the win was over as Potts crossed the finish line at 3:53:24. Griffin used the race-best run split of 1:16:28 to snag second place in 3:54:53, while Dreitz held on to finish off the podium with a 3:56:38 clocking.

Stevens again on the swim

Amanda Stevens (USA) once again demonstrated her swim prowess with a 24:23 swim that saw her start the bike with a three-minute advantage over Mandy McLAne (USA), Amber Ferreira (USA), Melissa Hauschildt (AUS) and Flo Chretien (USA). Ferreira and McLane kept pace with Stevens over the first half of the bike, but Hauschildt stormed towards the front and was only 32 seconds back at the halfway point.

Hauschildt was in front by the closing miles of the single loop bike course and was 47 seconds ahead of Stevens as the women ran into T2. Next came Ferreira, who was 7:38 back of the leader, while the rest of the field was over ten minutes behind.

A former Australian steeplechase champion, Hauschildt took control of the race on the run. The 2011 IRONMAN 70.3 world champion had a four-minute lead by the halfway point of the marathon and was almost nine minutes ahead by the end of the race. Hauschildt crossed the line in 4:12:39, ahead of Stevens, who finished second in 4:21:45. Ferreira gamely hung on for the final podium place with a 4:26:54 finish time.